Brand Names: U.S.

Altacaine

Tetcaine

TetraVisc

TetraVisc Forte

Pharmacologic Category

Local Anesthetic

Pharmacology

Ester local anesthetic blocks both the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses by decreasing the neuronal membrane's permeability to sodium, potassium, and other ions, which results in inhibition of depolarization with resultant blockade of conduction

Metabolism

Hepatic; detoxified by plasma esterases to aminobenzoic acid

Excretion

Urine

Onset of Action

Anesthetic: Within 30 seconds

Duration of Action

10 to 20 minutes

Use: Labeled Indications

Anesthesia, ocular: Local anesthesia for various ophthalmic procedures requiring rapid, short-acting topical anesthesia, including tonometry, gonioscopy removal of corneal foreign bodies, conjunctival scraping for diagnostic purposes, suture removal from the cornea or conjunctiva, and other short corneal and conjunctival procedures.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to tetracaine or any component of the formulation.

Dosing: Adult

Anesthesia, ocular: Ophthalmic: Instill 1 to 2 drops in affected eye(s) as needed. For tonometry and other procedures of short duration, instill just prior to evaluation. For minor surgical procedures, instill every 5 to 10 minutes for up to a maximum of 3 doses. For prolonged anesthesia, instill every 5 to 10 minutes for up to a maximum of 5 doses.

Dosing: Geriatric

Refer to adult dosing.

Dosing: Renal Impairment

There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer's labeling.

Dosing: Hepatic Impairment

There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer's labeling.

Administration

Ophthalmic: For topical ophthalmic use only; not for injection or intraocular use. Do not use intracamerally (may lead to damage of the corneal endothelial cells). To avoid contamination, do not touch dropper tip to any surface. Instruct patient to avoid touching eye for 10 to 20 minutes following administration.

• Contact lens wearers: Some formulations may contain benzalkonium chloride, which may be adsorbed by soft contact lenses; remove contacts prior to administration and wait at least 15 minutes before reinserting.

Other warnings/precautions:

• Administration: For topical ophthalmic use only; not for injection or intraocular use. Do not use intracamerally (may lead to damage of the corneal endothelial cells). The anesthetized eye should be protected from irritation, foreign bodies, and rubbing to prevent inadvertent damage.

• Prolonged use: Prolonged and continuous use is not recommended (diminished duration of anesthesia, delayed healing, and severe keratitis may occur). Prolonged use or abuse may also lead to corneal epithelial toxicity, manifesting as epithelial defects, which may progress to permanent corneal damage.

Pregnancy Risk Factor

C

Pregnancy Considerations

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted.

Patient Education

• Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)

• Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.

Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for health care professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience, and judgment in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.